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Saturday, September 30, 2017

Robert Cordoba has been dancing, teaching, performing, choreographing and judging for over thirty years. He started competing in International Latin at the age of sixteen when he was a member of two U.S. International Latin American formation teams. He was a top U.S Amateur competitor representing the events throughout until he switched to West Coast Swing in 1990. Within two years he won his first U.S. Open title.

"Most Social dancers come from a long line of people who have been expressing themselves through moving to their favorite music for a long time"

For the past twenty years Robert has averaged approximately forty weekends per year traveling around the world to teach West Coast Swing. His impressive list of accomplishments includes: 7 U.S. Open titles, 4 consecutive USA Grand National titles, 4 consecutive N.A.S.D.E. titles, multiple J&J and Strictly Swing titles, was voted best Classic Swing Dancer by Dance Action magazine, was awarded “U.S. Open Social Dancer”, and he was the first person to win 3 consecutive US Open titles.

"Young At Heart" by Frank Sinatra

Received from Roscel Garcia

Robert Cordoba has judged every major event including the Grand Nationals and U.S. Open multiple times. He has been the head judge, MC and DJ at events throughout the Europe and the South Pacific. He is among the first group of professionals to help get the West Coast Swing scene started in New York; has been teaching throughout Europe since the late 90′s (helping to establish WC Swing in Europe); and was one of the first Americans to introduce WC Swing to the South Pacific back in 2000. And still at it in Hawaii.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

By Anson Bean, Waikele Social Dancers believe in aristocracy. Not the aristocracy of power based on rank and
influence, but an aristocracy of the sensitive, the considerate and the
plucky. Its members represent the true human tradition, the one
permanent victory of our queer race over cruelty and chaos. They listen to the opinions of other dancers and try to be understanding.

"Social Dancers know that successful change demands that there be a kind of

social consciousness. There has to be a social commitment, a social

consciousness that joins the dancers together."

Social Dancers are sensitive for others as well as themselves, they are considerate
without being fussy, their pluck is not swankiness but the power to
endure and they can take a joke. Their true measure comes out in how they treat another person who will do them absolutely no good. They can avoid looking up as well as looking down on anyone.

"Walk With Me Through Paradise" by Melveen Leed

The aristocracy of the Social Dancer's
spirit is not — cheap, whiny, petty. They are without showiness,
without envy, without narrowness of any kind. They want to enjoy life. They do have certain
snobberies. They look down on bullies, bigots, liars and cheats. Their
idea of a low life is a gossip, - and the commoners they snub are the
cruel, the ungenerous and the unkind. Social Dancers are real people on Oahu.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Dancing in West Oahu may mean an activity to participate in, rather than a performance to watch. Traditional social dancing is a total activity -- it involves body, mind, spirit,
feeling. It is personal, intimate, communicative, social, public. It is
creative / spontaneous / individual and structured / coordinated /
conventional. It has few institutional standards or
rules, no corporate hierarchies. Just shared universal principles.

"Our only security is our ability to change."

And the dancing is always part of living, and combined with other aspects of
cultural and social life, such as singing, making music, eating,
visiting, courting, celebrating. It is multi-generational and includes
dancers of various degrees of skill and experience. Learning
in Traditional Social Dancing should not require teachers, classes, or
levels. Instead, new dancers are assimilated and integrated into the
dance community, surrounded and supported by experienced dancers, rather
than segregated and impeded by other struggling beginners.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

The traditional social dance teachers in West Oahu are not simply instructors who teach for money. They are leaders, community builders, often musicians or very good dancers. They give generously, nurturing and passing on the dance tradition, so that others may experience the joy of dancing. And those others, in turn, will later follow their example -- giving to yet others just as they themselves were given before. West Oahu is well on its way to develop the best social dancers on Oahu

"Social dancers strangely revere dance. They see it as another world, and perhapsa little mysterious - just because the partners in the dance don't speak."

Friday, September 22, 2017

What
is it as it applies to our type of Social Dancing? Patronage of the
Dance on Oahu is the support, encouragement, privilege, and/or financial
aid that an individual bestows to a dance group. In the history of art,
patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have
provided to artists such as musicians, painters, and sculptors. It was
with the rise of social dance clubs in the last century that Oahu
ballroom dance culture moved into its patronage system to establish a
benevolent oligarchy in each club.

"Social Dancers find that music and dance may be an expression of individuality, of how they feel the movement to the music."

There are many social dancers that belong to several clubs
and and make the effort to help. And it has overflowed to the Night
Clubs and even some Dance Studios. This kind of system continues across
many fields of the arts. Though the nature of the sponsors has changed,
it may simply refer to direct support and sometimes financial aid to the
group. There will be big increase in the Patrons of Dance in West Oahu,
specially with the bad vibes coming from the Rail Disaster. The noise
will be terrible.

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

Kalealoa
and all the way to Makaha are ready, willing and waiting for a new
dance group to form. Most of their printed information concerns activity
during the day and they are doing a terrific job of informing the
residents. However there is a rising use of computers and the residents
are find good use of the Internet for something besides email. I expect
to fan a few sparks in the direction of "after hours," defining it as
after dark. The biggest advance of course would be the addition of more
business parks. Live, Work and Play in your own kuleana and you are in
Paradise.

"Social dancers believe that music does not use up artificial energy, doesn't burn

up any fossil fuel, doesn't pollute. Neither does song, love or dance."

Monday, September 18, 2017

Received some nice photos from Marie. I made a collage and took the opportunity to make this into Marie's blog. Hopefully, I can get some additional opinions from Paul, Sergio and/or Renna, This is social media, anybody is welcomed.

I still insist that for the social dancer this the best possible of all venues. Halfway between a Night Club that has a small dance floor and a Ballroom which is all dance floor. You sit on chairs around a table, drink and talk story in your group. Greet others as they are coming in or just passing by. And if you wanna dance, the good music is playing and the awesome dance floor is there, just waiting for you. Dine and Dance, this is it. And they are already getting a reputation for solid grinds. They open at six and kau kau is at seven and the dance floor is jumping by eight. So you still have almost 2 hours of listening to good music, dancing and talking story with good friends. Enjoy yourselves.

Great idea Pepe. This is what Paul & I have to say:

"If
you think sunshine brings you happiness, then you haven't danced in the
rain,

Sunday, September 17, 2017

I had a nice day preparing for my evening at the dance. I decided to skip the Handi Van. They are very nice people but no use bothering too much. So I took the A bus, easy and fast enough, 25 minutes.

Got to the Studio before six pm and a few were there. Barbara at reception was very welcoming. And I saw Renna
shortly thereafter. And people began to come in bringing in their
delicious offerings. I was so happy to see many who I hadn't seen in some years because I
was living in Nanakuli. I was telling Renna that my seating arrangement was just fine (my walker) but I was going to get me a pillow to make it a little more comfortable. She gave me a perfect one with just the right measurements. Many thanks.

“Sana Maulit Muli” by Lea Salonga

Certainly some of the best people on Oahu.

I am having trouble with my cameras and fortunately I have had some help. Neil Okamoto helped me me get the camera going and we can thank Simon Escano
for taking the photos in this blog. This particular dance environment
is still new to me. This is social dance to da max. First of course, the
attendees sit on chairs and have tables to set their drinks on. Very
social atmosphere where as Marie says, they can talk story. And
of course, you wanna dance - the music is caressing your ears and there
is the floor. What a beautiful social set up.

A little after seven, the prayer was said and the kau kau line set up. The sociability was clear, every one was eating, drinking and talking story and enjoy the surrounding friendship. Of course, by eight there was a full floor of social dancers having fun their way to the beautiful music. The Big Picture was taken before nine pm when I left and Sergio email it to me.

"Please Be Careful With My Heart" by Jose Mari Chan

Got
the A bus promptly and was home before ten and had me some good grinds
that Marie gave me. And got on my information and try to make a blog.
Not perfect but then I have never been perfect and all I can do is keep
trying. I thank everyone that was there for being so nice.

"Social Dancers know that wealth is temporary. Those who have wealth musthere and now do good deeds that will live for a long time."

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Tried to get ready for the Handi Van which would get here at 5 pm. Had me worried for a few minutes, it was a half hour late but I arrived in Wahiawa before six thirty. There were people there waiting to get in, something about no one to open door. Leland arrived with the key and everyone began their set ups. And the first attendees started to come in. Many coming in with good grinds.

"It is such a joy to come to a social dance. The people here at

Wahiawa Ballroom Dance Club are genuinely friendly and welcoming."

Leo and Charito Delgado.

The above comment from Leo and Charito is the best and the kind that we seek. It goes for the party, the club, the people, the entity without have to get the "Stars" of the show. The beautiful music began by 6:45 and we all began to feel the vibes of social dance. Probably some of the best Latin music on this Island. And I am talking about Da Reel Teeng. Dancing? These are social dances and the dancers will dance to the favorites that are played by Leland. How about Bachata? Or Night Club 2 step.?

There is no place near this place just like this place. So this must be
the place. They had their General Dancing and some Photos were taken on
my camera. After the Ring of Prayer, the line for the Grinds. The most delicious on this island and Maile later announced that there had not been enough room on the tables and there would be more food available. So many nice people in Octoberfest costume lending a good atmosphere to the party.

"Very grateful for your sacrifice to come and join us. Glad to see
you and bless your heart. You have been a great friend to all of us.
May the Lord bless you always."

Lisa and Art Apilado

Music and dancing and fun. I think that this is the place where most of the Filipino tangos are danced. So nice to see them enjoy it. The keyboard was raffled off very nicely.

"Lili Marlene" by Marlene Dietrich

Thank you so much, for your promoting our dances and coming to join us on

the fun, music and excitement. We really do appreciate all that you do."

Mahalo Nui Loa

Leland and Maile

The Handi Van was late as per usual, but I got home in good time. Ate some ono food given to me by Maile and got on the computer.

Friday, September 8, 2017

Different Tangos?
Argentine
and Ballroom Tango use very different techniques and vocabularies, to
the point where some consider them related in name only. In Argentine
tango, the body's center moves first, then the feet reach to support it.
In ballroom tango, the body is initially set in motion across the floor
through the flexing of the lower joints (hip, knee, ankle) while the
feet are delayed, then the feet move quickly to catch the body,
resulting in snatching or striking action that reflects the staccato
nature of the Milonga style preferred music.

Tango
is about feeling and sensitivity, otherwise you are just doing
gymnastics.You can do all the steps but you have to have the feeling andsensitivity of authentic tango." ~Carlos Gavito

In Argentine tango, the steps are typically more gliding, but can vary
widely in timing, speed, and character, and follow no single specific
rhythm. Because the dance is led and followed at the level of individual
steps, these variations can occur from one step to the next.This allows
the dancers to vary the dance from moment to moment to match the music
(which often has both legato and/or staccato elements) and their mood.
In Musical notation the Italian word legato (literally meaning "&
tied together" indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly.

"Nostalgias" por Placido Domingo

In Musical notation, the Italian word staccato (literally detached, plural
- staccatos or staccati) indicates that notes are distinctly separate.
The Argentine Tango's frame, called an abrazo or "embrace," is not
rigid, but flexibly adjusts to different steps, and may vary from being
quite close, to offset in a "V" frame, to open. The American Ballroom
Tango's frame is flexible too, but experienced dancers frequently dance
in closed position: higher in the elbows, tone in the arms and constant
connection through the body. When dancing socially with beginners,
however, it may be better to use a more open position because the close
position is too intimate for them. In American Tango open position may
result in open breaks, pivots, and turns which are quite foreign in
Argentine tango and International (English) tango.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

They sprayed for bed bugs in this Hell Hole where I live, Friday and I had a good nights sleep. Lotsa plans for leaving this place - not easy. My depression is worse than ever. Fortunately I have some nice places to go and nice people to see. My Handi Van arrived early and got me to Dance Appeal Studio a little after six and the place was already beginning to jump.

Awfully nice to see so many of my old friends there. Whatta beautiful bunch of dancing people. All friends and they all know each. The only goof up was me, not enough photos. Bad Cameras but most likely is me the camera handler - failing miserably. I have to find a better method of getting the photos for the blog. Fortunately I may have a few emailed to me and I can make another blog.

"It's a wonderful world" by Bruddah Iz

The evening was very pleasant for the dancers and the music had a wide variety of moods to dance to and that is what they were doing. But getting close to seven thirty people were getting hungry and after a prayer led by Renna, the Kau Kau line opened up and there were people in the line. - Not enough to make another nine picture collage but what the hell. I am learning.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

Need better cameras? Or better control of batteries. The right people to take the photos? Gotta look into this. Maili got me a package of edible goodies to take home and I left before 8:30. I missed the Jack and Jill competition but I may get the details from somebody. The Handi Van was there on time and I was home about nine - Not bad. Ate and got working on this blog. I hope I can make it for the next Marie and Paul party.

"Anything you can dance to is dance music, classical, funk, Latin, calypso; it's all dance music except that for social dancers some music is much better than others."